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She bounds away into the house, leaving me staring at where she used to be. One thing’s for sure, nothing is ever going to be normal with two creative people living under one roof.
***
It’s late as I sit out by the pool and read through my script—again. It’s a good story, a true story, and I want to make sure I do the character justice. Athena is asleep in the bedroom. She got a couple of thousand words down for her book, but she’s not happy with the way the ending is going. Apparently, her characters aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing, and it’s taking longer to finish than she’d like.
Just thinking about her and the way her nose crinkles up when she’s annoyed by something makes me smile.
“Kris!” Athena’s scream pierces the air.
I’m running through the house, and she barrels into my chest, almost knocking me to the ground.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as I check the house for intruders.
“B-bad dream.”
Tears streak down her face, and her breathing is ragged. It’s been nearly a year since Athena has had one of these nightmares. With her clutching onto me, I bend, sweeping her off her feet, and carry her back to bed.
“Shh, it’s okay. It’s just a dream.”
“I-I know.”
“Same dream?” Athena nods. “Tell me.” She shakes her head. “Come on, babe, you know it helps to talk it out. Tell me,” I repeat in a slightly stronger tone.
Athena lets out a ragged breath, then slowly draws one in. She keeps doing this until her breathing evens out. I don’t push her again. This is all part of the process, letting her tell me in her own time. If it’s one thing we learned in counseling, it is that we need to share our demons, and the other needs to listen—really listen andhearwhat the other person is saying.
“You’re in a sports car—”
“Ooh, what type?”
“It’s an ice blue convertible, an older model. It has curves.”
“Nice.”
Athena nestles into me. “It’s a sunny day. You’ve got sunglasses on… you’re smiling.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m not with you.” I nod. “You’re driving, and suddenly you lose control of the car, and it goes over a cliff.” Athena sniffles then turns to face me. “The car explodes with you in it,” she whispers.
“It was only a dream, babe.”
“But you got hurt in a car accident.”
Drawing her in closer, so her face is buried in my neck, I say, “It was anaccident.”
Athena makes a series of sounds and clings to me tighter. “I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t, babe. I’m right here. It was a dream, that’s all.”
“Don’t let go,” she whispers.
Tightening my grip, I hold on to her until she falls asleep.
